I've always had an affinity for action-RPGs that draw outside the lines of the genre's hard edges. Something like Dark Cloud, the Level-5 adventure which smartly combined procedural dungeoneering with refined city-building; Persona 4: Golden with its imitable blend of social connection and murder investigation, or Moonlighter which uses exploration as an excuse to keep your storefront stocked with valuable items. With all of that in mind, it should probably come as no surprise that I've fallen in love with Dungeons of Hinterberg.
This upcoming Xbox Series X game is an undoubtedly ambitious first effort from developer Microbird, as much a love letter to the idyllic Austrian Alps as it is a guarantee that all eyes remain on Xbox Game Pass in 2024. You can think of Dungeons of Hinterberg as a wellness retreat for aspiring adventurers, where stuffy everyday-types flock to a colorful ski resort turned demon-slaying hotspot to indulge in a little hack-and-slashing by day and socializing with locals by night.
